The Vision of the Anointed

Self-Congratulation as a Basis for Social Policy

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: Tom Weiner

Length: 9 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

In this devastating critique of the mindset behind the failed social policies of the past 30 years, Thomas Sowell sees what has happened not as a series of isolated mistakes, but as a logical consequence of a vision whose defects have led to disasters in education, crime, family disintegration, and more. This is an empirical study in which “politically correct” theory is repeatedly confronted with facts, and the sharp contradictions between the two are explained in terms of a set of self-congratulatory assumptions held by political and intellectual elites.

These elites—the anointed—often consider themselves “thinking people,” but this thinking is actually rhetorical assertion, followed by evasions of mounting evidence against these assertions. The vision of the anointed is seen not merely as a failure but as a fatal danger to the values and the future of American society.

©1995 Thomas Sowell (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“An important and incisive book.” (New York Times Book Review)

“As compelling an explanation as any for the seemingly disproportionate amount of condescension and politically correct invective that emanates from the liberal side of the political spectrum toward the conservative opposition.” (Wall Street Journal)

“Avid conservatives, for whom Sowell is a true-blue intellectual force, will certainly seize upon his analysis for succor.” (Booklist)

The truth...whether you like it or not.

It's rare to get an unapologetic dose of truth these days. Most people, books, entertainment, etc. are geared towards telling people what they want to hear, because the truth makes us too uncomfortable... Not Thomas Sowell. Dr. Sowell is going to tell you the truth, whether or not you like or agree with it. This is a must read for everyone, regardless of your political or social leanings. Be warned, its not a colorful & exciting novel, its a cold stark look at reality. If you don't have the intellectual attention span you may wish to continue living the lies that the anointed of society have laid out for you. For everyone else....here's the red pill.

Should be required reading

Thomas Sowell debunks the words of throes retyping to change society by making decisions for us and harming most in their wake. As we also know once a government program is started it can never be killed.

Audible fails sync test

The audio is hopelessly out of sync with the text, but otherwise an excellent read of an excellent book.

One of the best books I've ever listened to...

A masterpiece. If you ever wondered how the other side could be so consistently wrong, read this book and understand.

Thomas Sowell does it again

I have said it before and I reiterate that this volume should be required reading in every high school civics or social studies class in the nation.

And excellant commentary on Society

Professor Sowell's discussion of our Society's challenges limiting freedom remains very relevant today. Well written.

extremely informative and thought-provoking

This book is an excellent discussion of why the political-left needs limits, no matter how virtuous they clam to be.

Required Reading for Everyone

Although this book was published in 1995, every sentence within is applicable and relevant to 2016. had I not known what year this book was published, I would have guessed it was published last week.

This is a well thought out and welll written book. Sowell takes difficult subject matter, such as explaining judicial activism, and makes it understandable for even nonlawyers, making it an excellent primer for anyone interested in American politics. Quite honestly, this book should be required reading in every college political science course.

The Vision of “The Anointed”: A Must Read

The reader may be shocked to discover this book was written in 1995. After reading it, one could only be lead to wonder if Thomas Sowell is an intellectual/academic … or a prophet!

He so perfectly describes the world of the “Anointed” that exists in 2018, it makes you realize that our society is nothing but doomed to repeat all the disasters we read about in our history books.

The ever-growing enthusiasm for Socialism in the so-called Millennial Generation is a clear indication that this political cancer that inevitably brings death and destruction in its wake is about to flare up again from the period of remission it was in. Us Children of the 60’s that thought this disease had been “cured” when we observed the fall of the USSR and the Capitalization of China were definitely overconfident in our assumption. But no, the clueless and naive Millennials are ever willing to fall for the Socialists rhetoric of “protecting the little guy” and “equality of outcome.”

In spite of this amazing book, and all the excellent works of Mr. Sowell— the West, the USA included — is doomed.

Ingenious Insight

Sowell has an insight into the machine that is the political Left that is accurate and complex. He works through the social vision of the elites, explaining their worldview and then demonstrates how this vision impacts their policy.